Murder By Exercise
By: Ashley Roberts, WVTM
Updated: February 23, 2012
Two women have been charged with murder following the death of a 9-year-old Alabama girl.
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office reports Joyce Hardin Garrard, 46, and Jessica Mae Hardin, 27, were both arrested and charged with murder in connection to the death of Savannah Hardin.
Joyce Garrard is the child's grandmother and Jessica Hardin is her step-mother.
Evidence shows that Garrard was allegedly planning to punish Savannah for lying to her.
On Friday, February 17, 2012, Savannah was supposedly told to run and was not allowed to stop.
Savannah ran for about three hours.
A 911 call was made by Jessica Hardin, at approximately 6:45 p.m., stating that Savannah was having a seizure and was unresponsive.
The young girl died Monday at Children's Hospital in Birmingham.
After an autopsy, Savannah's death was ruled a homicide by a state pathologist.
Preliminary reports show Savannah was extremely dehydrated and had a very low sodium level.
Savannah was a 3rd grade student at Carlisle Elementary School.
Garrard and Hardin are being held in the Etowah County Detention Center on $500,000 cash bond.
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office reports Joyce Hardin Garrard, 46, and Jessica Mae Hardin, 27, were both arrested and charged with murder in connection to the death of Savannah Hardin.
Joyce Garrard is the child's grandmother and Jessica Hardin is her step-mother.
Evidence shows that Garrard was allegedly planning to punish Savannah for lying to her.
On Friday, February 17, 2012, Savannah was supposedly told to run and was not allowed to stop.
Savannah ran for about three hours.
A 911 call was made by Jessica Hardin, at approximately 6:45 p.m., stating that Savannah was having a seizure and was unresponsive.
The young girl died Monday at Children's Hospital in Birmingham.
After an autopsy, Savannah's death was ruled a homicide by a state pathologist.
Preliminary reports show Savannah was extremely dehydrated and had a very low sodium level.
Savannah was a 3rd grade student at Carlisle Elementary School.
Garrard and Hardin are being held in the Etowah County Detention Center on $500,000 cash bond.
